Smalling could now miss Tuesday’s Manchester derby and Moyes, who had to field midfielder Michael Carrick in defence at Upton Park, is waiting to see if either Rio Ferdinand or Jonny Evans will be fit to return and partner centre-back Phil Jones.

United have only recorded one league win against a team currently in the top nine under Moyes and the Scot is eager to add another when Manchester City visit Old Trafford.

He added: “It’s important to win all the games. Big teams or small teams, you want to win them all. But we want to beat the top teams as well as the bottom teams.”